Charging apparatus for blast furnace



Aug. 4, 1959 J. M. M. AUGEARD 2,897,984

CHARGING APPARATUS FOR BLAST FURNACE Filed April 50. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arr; S

8- 1959 J. M. M. AUGEARD 2,897,984

CHARGING APPARATUS FOR BLAST FURNACE f Filed April 50, 1954 2 Sheets-sheaf, 2

JfA/V Mlle/f M/WCIZ AVG [HEB g) v -W M M Arryj:

.to initially homogenize the mixture.

United States Patent() The present invention relates to blast furnaces, and

more particularly to their charging apparatus or throats. 1

'With conventional throats, if it is required to effect a direct charging with ungraded ore comprising fines and lumps measuring as much as 40 cm. across, or with crushed but unsifted ore i.e., that taken straight from ,the crusher, the fines being mixed 'with the large pieces,

there generally occurs an automatic grading of the ore in the course of its fall into and through the throat,

Whether the feed to the throat is by an elevating conveyor belt, or a truck or skip which runs on inclined rails and is tipped up about its front wheels in the course of unloading.

In either case the ore undergoes in the course of its elevation an automatic grading on account of rotations and vvibration, the fines tending to collect under the larger Thus, owing to the rotation of the conveyorv I belt around its upper end rollers or the tipping of the pieces.

skip, when the furnace is being charged the various particles are projected with a kinetic energy that is higher for the large pieces as the latter are heavier and their tangential velocity is higher (they being situated further from the axis of rotation).

Hence the large pieces of the ore when they leave the charging device describe a path which approaches the horizontal much more than the fines or small particles,

while the fines in falling through the throat form almost as soon as they leave the charging device a vertical more or less flat sheet or shower that substantially intersects the edge of the charging device, the pieces of ore are the further removed from this sheet as they are larger.

Hence, there is a heterogeneous pouring of the ore into the throat of the blast furnace and a consequential ir- A regular or uneven charging of the latter, which is charged to a greater extent on the side diametrically opposed to the charging device since it is to this side that the large pieces are projected whereas the fines assemble on the same side of the blast furnace as the charging device.

Charging in this manner is most disadvantageous for p a good furnace operation.

To remedy this state of afiairs, it has been proposed This entails very costly installations which are in fact not very beneficial since the homogeneous charge obtained'once more looses its homogeneous character in the course of charging for the reasons given above. Further, it has been proposed to provide certain distributing devices; these are, however, generally expensive owing to their complicated nature. These devices are provided in the throat and permit the obtainment of a charge having a certain homogeneous character in weight and particle distribution. One method is to effect a progressive charging with the aid of a device which is mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the throat and discharges a heterogeneous mixture at a low rate, the final charge received in each radial plane of the blast'ifur'nace being formed of the 4 sum ofthe heterogeneous charges discharged in this plane I 2,897,984 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 in the course of the various rotations of the device. The charging is slow and the mechanisms proposed all require gas-tight joints which constitute a disadvantage which is the more serious as the blast furnace operates at a'higher pressure.

I The invention has for object to provide an improved throat or charging apparatus for a blast furnace which is simple in construction, reliable, does not comprise gas-tight joints that are not easy to produce and difiicult to maintain, and permits a uniform charging of the blast furnace with ungraded ore or raw ore straight from the crusher, i.e. permits the obtainment of'the same distribution in quantity and particle distribution in the various radial planes of the blast furnace.

This throat comprises below the upper inlet aperture for the ore an obliquely disposed deflecting device ofi set from this aperture and so disposed as to allow a free passage for the fines, which are thus enabled to flow in a free shower from said inlet aperture in the form of a thin sheet or jet, and moreover to receive the medium size pieces and large pieces of the ore so as to modify their path of descent and cause them to take up a path directed towards this sheet or jet of fines in such manner that they reach or even pass through the latter.

In this way there is obtained a new mixture of fines and medium and large pieces which remains substantially undestroyed.

Preferably, the deflecting device is orientable. According to one preferred mode of carrying out the invention, the deflecting device is situated above a chamber of revolution about the longitudinal axis of the throat. The top and bottom of this chamber is formed,

each and in the known manner, of a fixed conical periph- 35-eral portion whose apex is downwardly directed and a central closing bell Whose apex is upwardly directed, the two closing bells being moved downwardly in succession.

As a consequence of further deflections obtained by 40 rapidly lowering the upper bell, the charge is distributed axis of the blast furnace.

over the lower bell in uniform manner about the vertical The lowering of the lower bell after raising the upper bell ensures a uniform distribution of the charge inside the blast furnace while preventing any escape of gas to the atmosphere.

If the deflecting device is orientahle and the charging is carried out directly onto the lower bell after having lowered the upper bell, the distribution of the charge may be varied as desired.

The invention also has for object to provide a Iblast furnace provided with a throat of the type described above.

Other features and advantages of the invention 'will be 1 apparent from the ensuing description with reference to upper part of a blast furnace provided with a throat according to the invention, the charging elevator also being shown,

. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan View, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a larger scale of one detail of the throat device,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 of a modification of the invention including two charging skips,

Fig. 5 is a corresponding plan view of the latter,

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the deflecting device, and

Fig. 7 is a view on a larger scale of one of the reversing switches for the end of the travel of the deflecting device and the contactors for the latter.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1

. to 3, there. is seen at. 1 (Fig. 1) the, upper end of the verticalcylindrical wall of the blast furnace having a vertical axis XX. This wall is topped preferably by a metallic cylindro-colnical piece 2. The well 1 is encompassed by'a metallic cylindrical cov ering 3-which is connec ted above the-piece-2 toa conical member 34 to which areconnectedthe=usual-gas-outlet==pipes 5. The conical member 4 isnprovided'at--its;;upper-end with-an--annular flange 6 on which bears and in which-is centered; the th'roat or charging apparatus embodying the invention.

Thisthroat comprises a chamber of revolution.- about the'axis XX; ThwallEofzthischamber is secured to the flange-G and-includes a cylindrical portion -7 downwardly exten'dedl by a downwardly convergent conical portion :8" and" Upwardly extended by an upwardly convergent -conicaliportion 9. Y

T-he :upper :part ofiathecharnberis constituted by a downwardly convergent conical "hopper--10--provided at its 1? lower end with an upwardly convergent closing bell -or con e' 11." A tube l2 connects this bell to a first setof operatin'g'rods '13" through which his possible to apply the belliagainst the base of the hopper 10- or lower -it to=atposition shown in-chain-dot line at 11. Similarly, 'the base of the chamber-is'formedof the combination of the =fixed' conical-portion 8 and a central closing tone or bell 14. This bell is suspended froman axially -extending rod located within the tube -1-2 frorn which it extends at th6I'1lppel"811df0r'il.S connection'to a second operatingrod'lfi by means of'whieh it-is-possible to raise the bell14into contactwith the lower'part of the chamber or lower it to a position shown in chain-dot'line at 14*. i

-It willbe observed that a-setof cables =17--is provided for dismantling the chamber'unitiby exerting apull on =tiie tube 12 previously raised by -the rods -13 to the illustrated position.

" A" sealing 1 packing or joint'-18- provided between the rod 15 and the tube'12 at their. upper ends. It will'be notieed that this is the only joint provided in the throat --and that it isof'small diameter, simple inconstruction and readily inspected. Above the hopper 10 and dis- .posed coaxially with-the axis XXofthe blastfurnace is, supported by a support structure .19, a circular runway on which is' adapted to rolltby means ofrollers 21 a toothed ring 22 which'iscentered on and concentric w-iththe axis XX in the'manne'r describedhereinunder.

' Secured to the ring 22 is a pouring chute or spout 23 constituting adeflecting'device: This chute comprises a short upper cylindrical portion coaxial with -theaxis XX and a lower longer obliquely disposed portion, its axis being inclined atanangle x -with respect to -theaxis XX. The lower edge 24 of the chute issubstantially perpendicular tothe .generatrices oil the 'lower inclined por'tion so that this chute clischargesobliquely in the hopper 10, the lowermost point of this chute being disposed at c in the vicinity of the axis XX.

"This chute-23 and the ring' 22 are centered onthe "axis'XXby a sleeve 25 which is 'rotatively'mounted on the tube 12 and is secured to th'e'chute; by welding at 26' at'its-base and by a horizontal distance piece 27 wliichconnects the sleeve-2510 the chute on'the-side thereof diametrically. opposed to the lower; opening 24. This distance piece 27 is formed with two upwardly convergent faces so-asnot to hinder 'the descent-of the ore. The unit comprising elements 22 to "27 may be rotated about the axis XX by -an-electric"motor- 28 through a reducing gear29 anda pinion '30 inmesh'with the ring-'22. HenceQ-by supplying current-to thismotor it is'possible to orient the deflecting chute"23 in the de- -Sireddirection in relation to theaxis XX.

Above the chute 23 and coaxial with the axis XX, isa -'tubular passageway or guide iil which is open' atboth *ends and is-ad'ap'ted to'conduct towards the chute 23 the ore discharged into thi's 'guide through anropening l constituted by 'anotch- 32. -The'-horizontalsection of the 1 Y1 -g'ui'de 31 may 'be' 'ciroular, i slightly: ellipticalu or i ovalp-as illustrated in Fig. 2. This guide is supported on 33 (Fig. l).

The blast furnace is completed by a feeding device adapted to raise the ore and discharge it into the blast 5 furnace through the above-described throat or, more particularly, through the opening 32 in the guide 31. This feeding or elevating' device may be of any known type. Thetypes have been indicated in Fig. 1, one in full line,"'anil the other in 'chain-dot line.

The .device illustrated in full line is of the skip type. The skip wagon 34 is illustrated in its active discharging position. "Ihisskipfconstitutedby a b'ucket provided -with an-inclined opening=35 having a l0wer-front edge 36, includes in the known manner two "front wheels 37 and two rear-wheels'38 which' during the ascent of the skip move along parallel rails or ramps 39. When it is required to tip the bucket to the illustrated discharging position, the front wheels 37 continue to roll along "the upper curvedportions of the rails 3-9, whereas the 20 "rear"wheels f38'move along-two auxiliaryrails 40 dislposedat ahigher level,- thereby causing a'progressive tipping of the skip.

"'The' other feeding device, which is also applicabl'eto "theipresent inventionand 'is shown diagrammatically in 25 chair'i-dotline, comprises in the "known manner an endless'conveyor 41 whose belt or "other-endless means passes round an upper roller42. jWiththe above described throat 'the-charging-of'the blast furnace is efiected in 'the following' manner. 5 -'The 30 'two bells 11"and 14; raised by their control devices' 15 and 16, are appliedagainst the hopper 10 and'agai'nst the conical base portion 8 of 'the' chamber respectively. Further; the motor "28"is stopped and the -chute"-2-3 is 'so' oriented that the line of the greatest inclination of 5 'itsope'ning .24"is'perpendicular to the edge 36 cf the skip "34 when it is in itstipped position" or is perpendicular .to'the axisof-the' upper roller 42 of the endless conveyor '41 if "the latter is used instead of the skip.

Furthermore, said oblique opening '24 of the-*chute 23 is situated onthe-same side oftheaxis' XX-as=the opening 32 through which theore isdisehargedintdthe guide 31. The arrangement is such that 'the lowermost [point 'c"of"th'e chute 23'is nearerthe' axis XX thanth'e "edge36 of the skip"34"jwhen thelatter is*fully-'tipped 45(ornearer the axis XX thanthe vertical plane-tangent to'theroller 42' of theendless' conveyor 41).

Itwill be recalled that in the process ofelevating and discharging,whether a 'skip'34' or a conveyor 41 is' used, 'the'finesten'd to collect under the medium'and'large' pieces so that o'rrthe furnacecha'rging device thefines'are atthe bottom' on topof'which are'the medium piecestopped by f the largest'pieces This distribution has beensh'own'- in Fig.1 where'the'skip14 is in its tipped-up'positionY Thus, when this skip is tipped up'or' the conveyor belt 41rotates round"the"upper rol1er 42,' the'fineparticlesare disposednearer the axis of'rotation than'the large pieces and'the latte'rtherefore" have 'a' higher velocity. urther, the kinetic energy of the large'pieces 'is' increased e'ven "morefbythe fact thattheir mass is greater Thiines are 'discha'ngedfrom the conveyorsubstantiallyfrom the edge36 of the skip'34 (oi-'"alongthe plane tangent' to'the roller 42'iof the 'conveyor- 41) and fall in a freeshower 'forming a substantially 'vertical'sheet 'R in adir'ection parallel t'othe'axi'sXX." On accountof the orientation of the deflecting-device or chut'e 2-3 andin-particular the position of the lowermost point c, this shower'passes-free'ly f'through the chute 23. "On the other hand,=the medium 'size'pieces'and the large pieces are projecteda'long a path which i' s"less"verticalj as thepieces are 'larger-and 'the "latter' collide with'thefacing wall-of the-guid 31'; --as illustrated in Fig 1. Ihese pieces then-fall vertically "'along' the' wall of the guide and reach the inclined wall o'f the chute -23 which 'theyroll :along and emerge: in a directiomindicated'by'thearrow'fl. L fh'e'Achute -ZS therefore-modifies the direction offall a frame of the medium and large pieces and tends to direct them towards the sheet R of fines. Hence these medium and large pieces are mixed once more with the fines by meeting or passing through the sheet R.

Finally the fines and pieces fall in the same region of the hopper and form therein a single substantially homogeneous heap. This heap, on account of the action of the chute 23, assumes the shape abcd illustrated in Fig. 1.

When the hopper 10 is fully loaded the bell 11 is lowered to position 11 and allows through the charge which falls into the chamber 8. The bell 11 is then raised and the bell 14 lowered to position 14 so as to allow the charge to drop through the blast furnace.

Experience has shown that the charge which has already been rendered homogeneous from the point of view of particle distribution inside the hopper 10, fiows from the latter upon lowering the bell 11 into the chamber 8, which is at this moment closed by the bell 14, and is distributed uniformly in the space comprised between the two members 8 and 14. This uniform distribution results from a deflecting effect due to the rapid opening of the bell 11 and from the fact that, the charge being unsymmetrical, upon opening the bell 11, the charge is deviated from the vertical in the direction of arrows f about the conical member 11.

When the whole of the charge has been poured into the chamber, the bell 11 is raised and the bell 14 lowered so as to allow the charge to enter the blast furnace. Fines and large pieces flow in uniform manner as concerns particle distribution and quantity around the entire circumference of the bell 14.

,Any uneven accumulation which might occur from this moment onwards is without importance for the distribution in the blast furnace, variations in particle distribution appearing only in radial sections.

For example, perfect results have been obtained from the point of view of even distribution in a blast furnace with the following numerical data:

Weight of charge 2,300 kg. Dimension of the minor axis of the oval section of the guide 31 95 cm. Distance between the pouring edge 36 of the skip and the lower end of the guide 31 110 cm. Diameter of the oblique portion of the chute 23 104 cm. Angle x between the the axis of this portion and the axis Q( 40. Length of the generatrix of the chute intersecting the point 0 124 cm. Angle at the apex of the lower conical part of the hopper 10 60. Height of this lower part 80 cm. Diameter of the base of the bell 11 135 cm. Angle at the apex of the bell 11 80. Angle at the apex of the conical lower part 8 of the chamber 50. Diameter of the small base of this conical part 325 Cm. Axial height of this lower conical part 8 200 cm. Diameter of the base of the bell 14 350 cm. Angle at the apex of the bell 14 80. Inside diameter of the furnace wall 1 530 cm. Mean height of the fall of the charge from the lower opening of the chamber 250 cm. Length of the travel of the bell 11 to position 11 84 cm.

Opening time of the bell 11 to position 11 1 sec. Distance between the lower part of the bell 11 and the apex of the bell 14 160 cm.

It will be observed that the invention permits modification of the distribution of the ore inside the blast furnace if desired. Thus, if for any reason, due to the operation of the furnace, the level of the charge lowers in one means of the usual depth measurers 43) this may be immediately remedied. The operator rotates the chute 23 by means of the motor 28 so as to bring the line of maximum slope of its opening 24 into the radial plane of the blast furnace corresponding to the region where there is a lack of ore. He then lowers the bell 11 and allows through one or at the most two successive charges from the skip 34 directly through chamber 8 onto the bell 14 in the region of the annular space comprised between the latter and the bottom 8 of the chamber which situated in line with the undercharged region of the blast furnace. This partial charge is released into this region by lowering the bell 14 after having raised the bell 11. This operation is repeated as many times as necessary until a suitable charge distribution is obtained.

In Figs. 4 to 7 there has been illustrated a modification of the throat according to the invention, which is adapted for a blast furnace including two charging devices which are disposed in parallel and alternately discharge the ore into the blast furnace.

These devices have been shown as being of. the skip type, but it should be understood that an endless conveyor would be just as suitable. In this illustrated example two elevating rails or ramps 39, 39 are provided. These rails are disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical diametral plane YY and are each provided with auxiliary rails 40. A skip such as that illustrated at 34 is adapted to run along these rails. The skips pertaining to the two ramps discharge the ore in turn into the blast furnace.

The illustrated throat is identical to that of the first example including the oblique chute 23 and its control device. The installation differs from the first in respect of the shape of the upper guide 31 which has the form of a flattened funnel. This funnel comprises a lateral notch 32 through which each of the charging device discharges the ore.

Further, the motor 28 is a reversible electric motor and its current supply is controlled by two starting switches 44, 44 which are operated by the skips of the two elevating devices in their descent so that when the skip of each elevator arrives at its tipping position the chute 23 is so oriented that its opening is directed towards the skip to be discharged. The chute 23 therefore periodically swings about the axis XX under the action of the motor 28 controlled by, in addition to the switches 44.and 44*, the travel-limiting reversing switches 45, 45 The chute assumes in succession two angular positions angularly displaced one from the other to a convenient extent, i.e., at least 90", the angle y (Fig. 5) between the median plane YY and the directions ZZ or Z Z assumed by the chute 23 being at least 45. This angle being preferably around 60 and attaining even 90.

There will be described first of all the elevatorconveyor situated above the plane YY (Fig. 5), i.e. that which includes the ramp 39 and whose skip 34 is illustrated in the course of discharging. It is seen that the lower edge 36 of the latter allows the fines to fall in a vertical sheet R, which coincides in Fig. 5 with the edge 36, while the larger pieces are projected more to the right in Fig. 5, the fines and large pieces finally falling through the funnel 31*. At the base of the latter the fines are assembled along a very small arc mn at the lower edge of the funnel 31 when they fall in a free shower or a concentrated vertical jet S. The medium and large pieces, having rolled down the funnel 31 leave the latter in a direction indicated by the arrow f (Fig. 5) and fall on the chute or deflecting device, which urges them in its turn in the direction indicated by the arrow f (Figs. 5 and 6)- so that they intersect the vertical jet S of fines. As in the first example, the fines and the large pieces reassemble in the annular space between the hopper 10 and the bell 11 in the region situated across a diametral plane ZZ or Z Z below the discharge region and results in uneven distribution (ascertained by point. At the end'of the charging, two heaps are formed 7 in the hopper 10 which pertain'to the; two charging-devices. These heaps are homogeneousrand-result-in=identica'l distribution inthe "various radial planes of the blast furnace: when the bells 11'- and. 1 4 are:lowered in-succession to 11 and 14 When the operator desires to correct the charge distribution in the blast furnace, i.e., when' he needs to dispose the axis ofthe chute in line with the region of the blast. furnace where a lack of charge-has: been-detected, a-switch enables the operator tocut-out the two switches 44 and 44 and the two reversing switches 45 and 45 and control the motor 28 through anordinary control switch.

Although specific embodiments ofthe-inventionrhave been described hereinbefore, it is to beunderstood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what'l claim'as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: an-ore inlet aperture'disposed on said axis, a deflecting devicedisposed below the inlet aperture obliquely of said axis and haivinga lower discharge edge which is disposed nearer to saidi'axis than to a vertical geometric cylinder based on theinlet aperture, and a feeding device for feeding the: ore into the inlet aperture on the same side of said axis as said dis+ charge edge, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form (if athin stream from the feeding device through the. inlet aperture and past said discharge edge whereas the medium and large pieces of ore are received and deflected by the deflecting device toward said stream'offines.

2. The structure as claimed in claim l',.'wherein the deflecting device is turnable about said axis and is'combined with driving means for turning the deflecting device.

3. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis. for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: an ore inlet aperture disposed on said axis, a support, a ring mounted on the. latter below the inlet aperture for rotation about said' axis, a deflectingchute secured to the ring and disposed obliquely of said axis, and driving means combined'with ther-ing for rotating the latter about said axis, the chute having a lower discharge edge which is disposed nearer to said axis than to a vertical geometric cylinder based on'the inlet aperture, and a feeding device forfeedingv the ore into the inlet aperture on one side of the:latter, said discharge edge being movable, in rotating said ring, to a position in which it is on the same side of said axisas said side of the inlet aperture. on which the ore is fed, whereby there is provided a free passage for the-fines which are able to fall in the form of a thinistrea'm from the feeding device through the inletaperture and past said discharge edge whereas the medium and large pieces of ore are received and deflected by the deflecting chute toward said stream of fines.

'4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein teeth are provided on the ring and said driving means comprise a motor supported on the support, a gear wheel in mesh with the teeth on the ring, and'speed-reducing, means connecting the gear wheel to the motor.

5. In a charging apparatus having a verticallaxisfor charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a support, a tubular. guide secured to the latter and having an axis coincident with said vertical axis and provided with an upper ore inlet aperture, a deflecting device disposed below the guide obliquely of said vertical axis and having a lower discharge edge which isdisposed nearer to said vertical axis than-to a geometric cylinder extending the guide, and a reading device for feeding the ore through the inlet aperture into the guideon the same side'of said vertical axis assaid discharge edge, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from the feeding device through the inlet aperture and past said discharge edge whereas the rnediurna'nd large pieces of oreare'received and deflected by the'deflecting device toward said stream of fines, a chamber coaxial with the guide and disposed below the deflecting device and having upper and lower portions, each of said portions comprising a fixed downwardly convergent annular wall and a central opening closed by an upwardly convergent axially movable closing bell, the closing bells being coaxial with the guide, and means connected to the bells for individually opening and closing saidupper and lower portions of the chamber by axially moving the bells.

6: Ina charging apparatus having a'vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a support, a tubular guide secured to the latter and having an axis coincident with said vertical axis and provided with an upper ore inlet aperture, a deflecting device which is disposed below the guide obliquely of said vertical axis and is turnable'ab'out the latter, the deflecting device having a lower discharge edge which is disposed nearer to'sa'id axis than to-a geometric cylinder extending the guide, and a feeding device for feeding the ore through the inlet'aperture into the guide on one side of the latter, said discharge edge being movable, in rotating said ring, to a position in which it is on the same side of said vertical axis as said side of the guide on which the ore is fed, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from the feeding device through the guide and past said discharge edge whereas themedium and large pieces of ore are received and deflected by the deflecting device toward said stream of fines, means for turning the deflecting device about said vertical axis, a chamber coaxial with'the guide and disposed below the deflecting device 'andhaving upper and lower portions, each of said portions comprising a fixed downwardly convergent annular wall and a central upwardly convergent axially movable closing bell, the closing bells being coaxial with the guide, and-means connected to the bells for individually opening and closing said upper and lower portions of the chamber by axially moving the bells. v v I V 7. In a charging apparatus havinga vertical axis for charging. a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a support, a tubular guide secured to the latter and having an axiscoincident with said vertical axis and provided with an upper ore inlet aperture, two ore feeding devices adapted to feed ore through the inlet aperture, into the guide'on' opposite sides of said axis, a deflecting, device which isdisposed below the guide obliquely 'of said vertical axis and is tumable about the latter, the deflecting device having alower discharge edge which is disposed nearer toesaidaxis than to a vertical geometric cylinder extending said guide, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from the feeding device through-the guide and past said discharge edge whereas the medium and large pieces of ore are received and deflected by the deflecting device toward said stream of fines, control means combined with the feeding devices for determiningwhich of the latter feeds ore into the inlet aperture, driving means for turning the deflecting device about said vertical axis for orienting it inthe direction of that one of the feeding devices which feeds the ore into the. inlet aperture,v and means synchronizing the action of said' driving" means with the action of said control means.

8. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axisfor charging a blast furnace with orecomprising fines and medium and large pieces: a support, a tubular guide secured to the latter andhavin'g an coincident with said vertical axis and provided with an upper ore inlet aperture, a deflecting device disposed below the guide obliquely of said vertical axis and having a lower discharge edge which is disposed nearer to said vertical axis than to a geometric cylinder extending the guide, and a feeding device for feeding the ore through the inlet aperture into the guide on the same side of said vertical axis as said discharge edge, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from the feeding device through the guide and past said discharge edge whereas the medium and large pieces of ore are received and deflected by the deflecting device toward said stream of fines, a hopper coaxial with the guide and disposed below the deflecting device and having a lower downwardly convergent portion terminating in an opening concentric with the hopper, an upwardly convergent bell co-operable with the opening for opening and closing the hopper,

and means for raising and lowering the bell so as to close and open the hopper.

9. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a vertical passageway, an ore feeding device having a feeding edge from which the ore is fed into the blast furnace, and a deflector disposed below the vertical passageway and obliquely of said axis and having a lower ore discharge edge, said feeding edge being situated within the vertical passageway at a greater distance from said axis than said discharge edge and on the same side of said axis as the latter, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from said feeding edge through the vertical passageway and past said discharge edge, whereas the medium and large pieces of ore from the feeding device are received and deflected by the deflector toward said stream of fines.

10. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a vertical passageway, an ore feeding device having a feeding edge from which the ore is fed into the blast furnace, and a deflector surrounding the lower end of the vertical passageway and having a portion which downwardly extends obliquely of said axis and has a lower ore discharge edge, said feeding edge being situated within the vertical passageway at a greater distance from said axis than said discharge edge and on the same side of said axis as the latter, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from said feeding edge through the vertical passageway and past said discharge edge, whereas the medium and large pieces of ore from the feeding device are received and deflected by said portion of the deflector toward said stream of fines.

11. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a vertical passageway, an ore feeding device having a feeding edge from which the ore is fed into the blast furnace, and a deflector surrounding the lower end of the vertical passageway and having a portion which downwardly extends obliquely of said axis and has a lower ore discharge edge, said feeding edge being situated within the vertical passageway at a greater distance from said axis than said discharge edge and on the same side of said axis as the latter, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from said feeding edge through the vertical passageway and past said discharge edge, whereas the medium and large pieces of ore from the feeding device are received and deflected by said portion of the deflector toward said stream of fines, and a hopper coaxial with the vertical passageway and disposed below the deflecting device and comprising a lower downwardly convergent portion terminating in an opening concentric with the hopper, an upwardly con vergent bell co-operable with the opening for opening and closing the hopper, and means for raising and lowering the bell so as to close and open the hopper.

12. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a vertical passageway, an ore feeding device comprising an ore container shiftable to and from a pouring position, the container having a pouring edge from which the ore is poured into the blast furnace in said pouring position, a deflector disposed below the vertical passageway and obliquely of said axis and having a lower ore discharge edge, said pouring edge being situated within the vertical passageway at a greater distance from said axis than said discharge edge and on the same side of said axis as the latter, whereby there is provided a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from said pouring edge through the vertical passageway and past said discharge edge, whereas the medium and large pieces of ore from the container are received and deflected by the deflector toward said stream of fines.

13. In a charging apparatus having a vertical axis for charging a blast furnace with ore comprising fines and medium and large pieces: a vertical passageway, an ore feeding device having a feeding edge situated within the vertical passageway from which feeding edge the ore is fed into the blast furnace, a deflector which is disposed below the vertical passageway and obliquely of said axis, has a lower ore discharge edge and is turnable about said axis, said discharge edge being situated nearer said axis of the furnace than said feeding edge and movable to the same side of said axis as said feeding edge when turning the deflector, whereby there is provided, when said feeding and discharge edges are on the same side of said axis, a free passage for the fines which are able to fall in the form of a thin stream from said feeding edge through the vertical passageway and past said discharge edge, whereas the medium and large pieces of ore from the feeding device are received and deflected by the deflector toward said stream of fines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,475 Reuleaux Apr. 26, 1904 938,411 Crockard Oct. 26, 1909 1,061,349 Windsor-Richards et a1. May 13, 1913 1,465,273 Kluttz Aug. 21, 1923 1,622,461 McKee Mar. 29, 1927 

